Wednesday, 27 October 2010

MWM here. Akelamalu has given me permission to do a guest post today regarding my birthday yesterday. My darling wife bought me a very special birthday present - I got to experience riding on the footplate of this

60163 TORNADO - the first steam engine to have been built from scratch for 50 years and it took 19 years to build by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust at a cost of £3.1 million. For any anoraks out there reading this, it is a Class A1 Pacific loco originally designed by A. H. Peppercorn in 1945 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). Unfortunately none of the original 49 that were built were preserved, hence this new build.

Here's me on the footplate being given instructions of where to sit so that I was out of the way of the footplate crew.

Here's the driver Brian

and the machinery that makes it all work so magnificently.

Here's the view of the track from the fireman's perspective.

It has been a lifetime ambition of mine to enjoy a footplate ride and to realise this ambition on such a unique engine, on my birthday, was absolutely wonderful. All too soon the 50 minute journey was over but the memory of this day will be something I will cherish forever and I have a certificate to prove I did it.

Monday, 25 October 2010

Susan at Stony River hosts this fun theme each Monday, so do pop over and read the others who have signed Mr. Linky. The rules are thus:

Every Monday Susan will post a picture for the subject of your story. Microfiction means the shortest of short stories. Think Aesop's fables, comic strips, or even jokes: complete stories that can be told in under a minute. For this game, the limit is a tweetable 140 characters or fewer, including punctuation and spaces.

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

You may recall last Wednesday I said we were off on a jaunt? We went on a day trip to the Lake District and our first stop was Kendal, which is considered to be the southern gateway to the Lake District being only around 9 miles from Windermere and around 30 miles from Keswick. The other lakes are all within an hour or two's travelling by car from the town, as are locations for walks and rambles, both gentle and demanding. The town’s traditional trade was in wool, from which the town’s motto “Pannus mihi panis”, literally meaning “wool is my bread” was taken. The town’s most famous export must be Kendal Mint Cake. Joseph Wiper came up with the original recipe for the Everest conquering energy bars, and by the time the company was sold to rival mint cake makers Romneys.

The first thing we noticed when we arrived in Kendal was this

Whoopee! However as it was only 10.30 and it didn't open until noon we had a walk round the many little streets looking in the shops and visited the small market first.

I've put together a little slide show of some of the little streets in Kendal and the more interesting buildings.

We then found this charming pub where we decided to have lunch.

With a history...

It was lovely inside - warm, welcoming and bright.

We had a lovely lunch of Steak and Ale pie with new potatoes, carrots, sugar snap peas and cauliflower all washed down with real ale.

By the time we'd finished lunch it was 12.45 and the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Beer and Cider Festival at the Town Hall across the street had been open for 45 mins so we decided to pop over and partake of some more real ale.

The Town Hall is a beautiful old building and inside was typical of old style town halls with wood panelling and shiny tiled floors. On Heritage Open Day in Kendal the Town Council open the Mayor's Parlour to the public. This is a rare opportunity to see and learn about the historic artefacts stored in the Mayor's Parlour, including The Sword of State, the pair of Maces, Kendal Pattern Book and Queen Catherine Parr's Book of Devotions. Catherine Parr the last wife of Henry VIII, was born in Kendal Castle.

This is what greeted us when we got into the room where the Festival was being held.

We hired two half pint tankards and bought a sheet of payment vouchers for £5 and made our way to the bar where we purchased two halves of two of the 30+ ales and ciders on sale very cheaply, then found a seat at the other end of the room. Some of the more unusual named ales were Chocolate Cherry Mild, Perfect Disaster, Bottle Wreck Porter, Cocker Hoop, Thirst Rescue, Hung Drawn & Portered, Lonesome Pine, W'Ruff Night, Collie Wobbles, Village Idiot, Warlock Stout and Old Bushy Tail - you want to try some now don't you?

We had to meet the coach at 1.30 p.m. to take us on the next leg of our trip but we just had time to try another half pint of a different brew before we took our tankards and voucher back for a refund. We did consider asking our coach driver if she could come back for us later but decided against it.

Our next destination was Bowness on Windermere, which is Cumbria’s most popular destination, with the town busy for much of the year. People come to enjoy the lake for sailing and watersports, or just to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the area and the town’s delightful setting. Our coach driver dropped us off right next to the lake and although the day was very overcast there were plenty of people taking boat tours on lake Windermere, which is the largest lake in England.

﻿

We headed up into town away from the lake to meander around the streets for a while. We came across a confectioner's that specialised in celebration cakes and just had to take a photo of this wedding cake in the window.

Isn't it fabulous?

Here's a little slide show of the photos we took around Windermere.

It was almost time to return to the coach for our journey home so we popped into The John Peel for one last drink before heading back.

The weather wasn't fantastic - dull and chilly - but we had a great day. Hope you enjoyed it too.

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Our town has a brand new Sports Village which was opened at the beginning of September by HRH The Duke of Gloucester; Olympic Silver Medalist Swimmer Kerri Ann Payne, who lives in the town, performed an inaugural swim in the pool.

I have been lucky enough to have been given a three month free membership because of a scheme here run by the NHS called Exercise on Prescription. Anyone with a health problem (in my case Diabetes) who needs to lose weight (which I do) can be referred to a local gym for a free membership by their GP. My GP referred me and if, after the trial period, I have used the facilities regularly and have lost some weight the membership can be extended for another six months.

I started last Monday and for the first week I just used the gym. The exercise machines, bikes, treadmills etc., all have their own TV screens and connections for headphones and even Ipods so you can watch TV or listen to your own music whilst exercising. This week I did a dance class on Monday and today I've booked in for an Aquafit session in the pool tomorrow. In the meantime I have been using the exercise bikes and treadmills in the gym, working up a sweat!

I am so enjoying myself and hopefully getting fit and slimmer in the process. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can get an extension on the membership. Wish me luck.

Monday, 18 October 2010

Susan at Stony River hosts this fun theme each Monday, so do pop over and read the others who have signed Mr. Linky. The rules are thus:

Every Monday Susan will post a picture for the subject of your story. Microfiction means the shortest of short stories. Think Aesop's fables, comic strips, or even jokes: complete stories that can be told in under a minute. For this game, the limit is a tweetable 140 characters or fewer, including punctuation and spaces.

Here's today's picture and my contribution.

The Princess thought the Prince was over reacting by bricking up the door of her room.

Monday, 11 October 2010

Susan at Stony River hosts this fun theme each Monday, so do pop over and read the others who have signed Mr. Linky. The rules are thus:

Every Monday Susan will post a picture for the subject of your story. Microfiction means the shortest of short stories. Think Aesop's fables, comic strips, or even jokes: complete stories that can be told in under a minute. For this game, the limit is a tweetable 140 characters or fewer, including punctuation and spaces.

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"One's life is never in vain, no matter how short, if people remember you." Akelamalu 2009

"A person only has to prove what they believe if they are trying to convince someone else that it's true. I don't bother trying to prove anything because what others believe doesn't matter to me." Akelamalu 2010

Welcome to my home from home......

Take your shoes off and stay a while. Please leave a comment - I love comments and I promise to return the favour.

Who I am

I'm a Scorpio female, married with two sons, four grandsons and one granddaughter. Akelamalu is my Hawaian name, not that I'm Hawaian you understand I just like the name.
As my header says "I may tell you everything. I may tell you nothing" - depending on the mood I'm in.
I also practice Reiki, if you want to know more about this please see my favourite posts.
I have a webpage where I have published my Grandmother's biography, which was written by my father when he was 72. You can read it or buy a hard back copy - just click on the links above the photograph of KIT.
All photographs on this blog are copyrighted 2007 and must not be used without express permission from me.

DAN'S FI-VER (MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS) - My son's blog

MY WEBSITE - KIT - A BIOGRAPHY OF MY GRANDMOTHER

Kit - Book Reviews

Stephen

This was a fantastic read. My mother is a niece of Joe and so Kit was my Great Grandmother, and so relating to some of the characters was fantastic. Thanks for a moving tribute to our Great Grandmother.

Lorraine

How lovely and a wonderful tribute. Your father must be so proud and I think it is incredible he took the time to sit and write this out. I am so happy for him that this has seen the light of day and we are all able to read his words. Say a big thank you to him from me please.

Fancita

This has been the most moving story I have read in a long time. I will read this over and over again. Such a wonderful give you have given.

Jackie

I loved Kit's story! My family are from the same area, so much of it was very familiar to me. It is a wonderful heirloom!

Andrew

This biography is of my great grandmother. I am the youngest son of one of Joe's nieces and really enjoyed reading and learning lots about the family history. Thanks for the moving history lesson.

Mary

Beautiful.... spent the last few days reading this on and off. Once I started reading this I could not stop. Heartworming. Memories...

M.M.

Have done nothing else today but read your mother's story. Once I started I couldn't stop. She would be very proud. Thanks for a very fascinating and moving story!! I will be going to England for the first time later this month, but not around the Manchester area. It is a place I have always wanted to visit, not for the least of which is the resilience of it's people which your family's story certainly demonstrates. Thanks.

momo

its quite amazin becuse in scool we r learnin about riting a biography of 1 of our parents.i love it!!!!!

Robin

Loved it! Started and couldn't stop until the end. My only complaint is that I couldn't view any but the first photograph - would've loved to see more of Kit and her family. What a wonderful thing to do and what a treasure for Kit's family!

Karen

I have just finished reading KIT - A Biography of my Mother. What a wonderful, heartwarming story, I enjoyed each and every chaper. Hope it will be published as a book for all to read.

Lettuce

This is wonderful, Lamalu - i've got tears on my face too, lovely writing and what a great story and insight and memory - and everything that it is! i've just read the beginning, and will be back soon for more.Congrats, this really is marvellous!

Annelisa

I've read 'The Beginning'... the birth of Kit...and was engrossed! Although there was strife, and the catholics and protestants were not good bed-fellows, it is beautiful that your grandmother and grandfather came together, and in their affection for each other gave birth to little baby Kit... I will be back to read the next chapter soon... I would love to know more about this (your) family!

Dauna

I love the words that have flowed from your heart about your mother Kit. I feel like I know you and her through your words. I have tears in my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing it was beautiful. I will be sending people to read this and hope you publish in book form I would buy. Oh my what a great heart warming story of your mothers life, love ,struggles, wonderful children and victory. Kit lived!Many blessings to you,Angel

Thank you Ron.

AWARDS - To see who awarded what and when click on view all images.

The Reiki Precepts

Just for today I will not worry;
Just for today I will not get angry;
Just for today I will be thankful for my many blessings;
Just for today I will be honest in my dealings with people;
Just for today I will be kind to every living thing.